Wringer construction



Nov. 8, 1955 N. l.. ETTEN WRINGER CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1950 llllllllllfml: f//A .H IIIMI...

Nov. 8, 1955 N. ETTEN 2,722,818

WRINGER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 11, 195o 4 sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 8, 1955 N. l.. ETTEN 2,722,818

WRINGER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 1l, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E gl? m TW 1,5m 711575,

Nov. 8, 1955 N. L. ETTEN 2,722,818

WRINGER CONSTRUCTION Filed July ll, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent O z,7zz,s1s

wnnsoea CONSTRUCTION Nicholas L. Etten, Cedar Falls, Iowa, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Iowa Wringer Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application .'iuly 11, 1950, Serial No. 173,198

6 Claims. (Cl. Gti- 2.63)

This invention relates to improvements in wringer construction, and more particularly to a wringer of the type associated with a clothes washing machine, although the invention will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art, since the structuralfeatures might be incorporated in other types of machines or mechanisms utilizing a pair of confronting rolls under pressure.

In the past, many and various types of wringers and wringer mechanisms have been developed, especially those types used in connection with mechanical or automatic washing machines. Extreme difculty has been experienced, however, in providing a wringer wherein the pressure between the rolls would automatically adjust itself to conform to the various loads passed between the rolls, and at the same time maintain the desirable substantially parallel relationship between the rolls. This was caused to some extent by the'fact that in substantially every case the only relative movement between the rolls during operation was in a vertical direction, in addition to the essential rotary movement, of course. Difficulty was also experienced in the application of pressure equally to the opposite ends of one or both the rolls, and

in acquiring an even and proper distribution of pressure over the widths of the load passing between the rolls, especially if the load was not squarely centered.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a wringer in which one of the rolls may shift longitudinally as well as vertically relatively to the other roll during operation.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision g of a wringer in which the rolls are so mounted as to substantially maintain their parallel relationship regardless of variances in the load passed between them.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a wringer embodying means to apply a pressure to the rolls, and wherein the pressure increases with an increase in thickness of the load, while the rolls tend to maintain a substantially parallel relationship therebetween.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a wringer so designed as to provide an even pressure and a proper distribution of that pressure over the width of a load passing between the rolls.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a wringer in which one of the rolls is journaled in pivotal bearings, permitting a longitudinal movement of that roll relatively to the other roll during operation of the wringer.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a wringer wherein pressure is applied equally at all times to opposite ends of one of the rolls regardless of the character and disposition of the load passing between the rolls.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a wringer in which one of the rolls is journaled in bearings supported by a rocking yoke, pressure being applied to the fulcrum or pivot point of that yoke.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide a wringer 2,722,8l Patented Nov. 8, 1955 in which the pressure applying means may be located at one end only of the wringer frame, and yet the pressure from those means is always applied equally to opposite ends of one of the rolls.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a wringer in which the upper roll is in effect suspended in a pair of pivotal bearings, in turn carried by a pivotal yoke, thus permitting that roll to vary its position both vertically as well as longitudinally with respect to the lower roll.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a wringer in which the pressure applying means is an integral part of the toggle mechanism through which pressure is applied and released when desired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a simplied, economical, and highly durable wringer, capable of giving a better wringing action by virtue of permitting a pressure increase with increase in thickness of load, while maintaining an even distribution of that pressure, and while maintaining the substantially parallel relationship between the rolls.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a wringer embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is substantially a central vertical sectional view, taken longitudinally of the showing of Fig. l, with parts broken away, and parts shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the staggered section line III-III of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken at the left hand end of the showings in Figs. l and 2, through the casing, and illustrating the pressure applying mechanism and safety release mechanism in elevation;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line V-V of Fig. 1;

Figure 6 is a view similar in character to Fig. 2, but showing a relatively heavy load between the wringer rolls; and

Figure 7 is a view similar in character to both Figs. 2 and 6, but illustrating the wringer in released position.

As shown on the drawings:

In the illustrated embodiment of the instant invention the wringer is carried by a power head l having a depending supporting sleeve 2 integral therewith. This sleeve 2 is rotatably mounted on the top of a suitable drive post on a washing machine not shown in the drawings. Extending through the sleeve 2 is a shaft 3 which connects with a wringer drive shaft of the washing machine.

The power head 1 contains any suitable gear assemblage or arrangement for driving the wringer rolls in forward and reverse direction, and may contain any suitable clutch arrangement by means of which the driving connection is freed whenever pressure on the rolls is released, such gear arrangement and clutch mechanism forming no part of the instant invention. The operation of the wringer rolls is controlled by the usual handle 4.

The wringer frame is carried by the power head l and includes a channel-like bottom member 5 connected to a pair of end stiles 6-6 which are generally of channel shapeand function as slideways for the roll bearings. The frame also includes a top member or bar 7 also of channel shape and inside this top bar at the inboard end a bracket 8 is fixed to the bar and pivoted to 'the power head as indicated at 9.

A shroud encloses each side of the wringer, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Each shroud is preferably a die casting, and is formed to provide a drain board formation 11 as seen in Fig. l. The top bar 7 of the wringer frame is disposed centrally between 'the'shroud members 145-10, and at the inboard'endofthe wringer a cover strip 12 is employed to'close the space between the shroud members.

Inside the frame is a lower wringer roll 13 with its journals resting in open top grooves on bearing blocks 14-14 seated in the end stiles on vthe bottom member S. The shaft of this roll 13 extends into the power head 1 as indicated at 15 inFig. 2 for connection with the drive mechanism contained in that power head, this being the driven roll.

inside the top Vbar 7 is a channel-shaped yoke '16 centrally pivotedV to the top bar by a transverse pivot pin 17. A roll bearing block 18 is pivoted to each end of this yoke by way of a transverse pivot'pin 19, and these bearing blocks 118-18 are suitably apertured to loosely ac commodate the journals of an upper wringer roll 20. This upper wringer roll is therefore, in effect, pivotally suspended from the top bar 7, although when pressure is applied tothe rolls by means later to be described, the

mounting means for the upper roll forces it downwardly 1 into contact with the lower roll 13.

In the instant invention, the means for applying pressure to the rolls 13 and 20 are directly incorporated in a toggle linkage arrangement directly connected between a fixed part of the wringer frame and the pivotal top bar 7. With reference now more particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen'that the pressure applying means include a substantially inverted U-shaped frame 21 having one or more outwardly extending portions 22 rigidly secured to a cover member 23 of a size to fill the space between the shroud members 10-10 at the outboard end of the wringer. To the lower end of this frame arrangement at each side thereof, the lower end of a link 24 is pivotally connected, and the upper end of such link is pivoted to a bracket 25 secured to the adjacent end stile 6.

Through the top portion or bight 26 of the frame 21 the shanks of a pair of identical eye-bolts 2-7 extend downwardly inside the frame. The eye .portions of the bolts 27-27 are engaged around a transverse pivot pin 2S mounted in the depending leg portions of a U-shaped bracket 29 secured to the inside of the outboard end of the top bar 7.

Inside the frame 21 a compression spring 30 is disposed around the shank of each .bolt 27, the upper end of the spring abutting the under face of the bight 26 of the frame, and the lower end of the spring abutting a washer 31 held in place by a nut 32. Obviously the springs -30 may be adjusted as to compression by tightening or loosening the nuts 32-32. The springs being under compression tend to force the bolts 27 down wardly, when the structure is in the position seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and thereby cause the bolts to pull the free end of the pivotal top bar 7 downwardly forcing the upper roll 20 against the lower roll 13 by way of the rocking yoke 16.

The toggle arrangement including the frame 21 and links 24-24 is oif center but not over center, and therefore a suitable latch mechanism is needed lto hold the parts in pressure applying position. To this end, it will be noted that each leg of the frame 21 terminates in a catch 33 engageable by the upturned portion of a latch member 34 pivoted as at 35 to each leg of an inverted U-shaped bracket 36 secured to the underside of the bottom frame member S. This latch member is normal` ly urged into latching position by means of a spring 37 connected between the latch member and the bracket 36. A stop pin 38 secured to each leg of the bracket 36 limits the upward movement of the latch memberto latching position.

Safety release means are also provided to quickly release the pressure on the rolls in case of emergency. These release means are best seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. On each side of the wringer construction at the top thereof, extending longitudinally in the opening of the housing 10 is a pivoted release bar 39. This bar is pivoted to the shroud or housing 10 as indicated at 40 in Fig. 5, and the outer end of the pivot pin has fixedly secured thereto a cam lever 41. The free end of this lever 41 abuts the horizontally extending portion 42 of a vertically disposed slide bar 43 provided with elongated slots 44 engaged over the shanks of bolts 45 which connect the bar with the adjacent flange of the end stile 6. The lower end of the slide bar is inwardly turned as at 46 to rest on the aforesaid latch 34. Obviously, when either release bar 39 is depressed, the slide bar 43 is forced downwardly and triggers the latch 34 out of engagement with the catches 33-33 on the frame 21, thereby freeing the pressure on the rolls and permitting the toggle arrangement to assume the position seen in Fig. 7, with the rolls well separated.

In operation the instant invention is simple yet highly eflicient. First, it should be noted that by virtue of its pivotal mounting, the upper roll may not only move vertically, but also longitudinally relatively to the lower roll during operation of the wringer. The fact that the rock.- ing yoke 16 is centrally pivoted to the top bar 7 provides an equal application of pressure to the ends of the top roll, and that application of pressure must remain equal at all times. This substantially iioating mounting of the upper roll 20 permits that upper roll to immediately adjust itself to a substantially parallel relationship with the lower roll upon the sudden introduction of a load between the rolls, and causes an even application of pressure over the width of the load.

This is best illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein a relatively thick load 47 has been introduced between the rolls. This load has caused a slight elevation of the top bar 7 as indicated by the space 48 at the left hand side of Fig. 6, and the upper roll has shifted slightly to the right relatively to the lower roll, thus maintaining its parallel relationship to the lower roll, and at the same time providing an even application of pressure throughout the width of the load. Longitudinal shifting of the upper roll is permitted by virtue of the pivotal mounting of the bearings 18-18. At the same time, it should be noted that by virtue of the'mounting of the pressure springs 30-30, as the thickness of the load increases, the pressure between the rolls increases proportionately because of the added compression of the springs caused by the load tending to force the top bar 7 upwardly.

In the event of emergency, either release bar 39 may be struck to trigger the latch 34 and release the pressure, permitting the toggle arrangement to assume the position seen in Fig. 7, and permitting the elevation of the top bar 7 to its maximum extent. When it is desired to again reset the rolls, it is a simple expedient to press downwardly on the outboard end of the top bar 7 until the catches 33--33 on the frame 21 have been engaged by the latch, the sloping edges to the rear of the catches insuring a caming of the latch 34 into holding position.

During operation, should the rolls be suddenly thrown out of substantially parallel relationship by the sudden off center application of a load between them, the pivotal mounting of the upper roll will cause a creeping or drifting of that load so that the rolls will very quickly assume their substantially parallel relationship with the resultant even application of pressure to the load. It will thus be seen that proper pressure and wringing action is applied to substantially any load.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a simplified form of wringer which is highly durable, economical to manufacture, and simple in operation. It will be noted that the spring means are substantially an integral part of the toggle .linkage by means of which pressure is applied to the rolls. This feature also adds to the economy of manufacture, and durability of the wringer, since the parts are reduced to an optimum minimum and there is little likelihood of any parts getting out of order. The better and more even wringing action the instant invention is capable of providing results n the main from the pivotal mounting of the upper roll.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wringer, a frame, a top bar pivoted at one end thereto, a pair of superposed rolls in said frame, a vertically disposed inverted U-shaped frame, an elongated member extending through the bight of said U-shaped frame and pivoted to the other end of said top bar, a stop at the lower end of said member, a compression spring on said member interposed between the bight and said stop, link means pivoted to the lower end of said U-shaped frame and to a fixed part of the tirst said frame, means between said top bar and the upper roll to transfer pressure on said top bar due to said spring to the upper roll, and means acting to releasably hold said link means in a position with pressure applied to the upper roll.

2. In a wringer, a main frame, a top bar pivoted at one end thereto, a pair of superposed rolls in said frame, means to transmit pressure from said top bar to the upper roll, and a pressure applying toggle arrangement for said top bar including an inverted U-shaped frame, a bolt extending through the bight of said U-shaped frame and pivoted to the other end of said top bar, a stop on the lower end of said bolt, a compression spring around said bolt positioned between said bight and said stop, link means pivoted to the lower end of said U-shaped frame and to a fixed part of said main frame, and means acting to releasably hold said link means in a position with pressure applied to the upper roll.

3. In a wringer, a frame, a pair of generally parallel inter-engageable rolls mounted for rotation in the frame, a yoke extending in a direction generally parallel to said rolls, support means supporting said yoke for movement about a pivot axis intermediate the ends of said yoke and transverse to the axes of said rolls, bearings journaling the opposite ends of one of said rolls and each bearing being pivotally connected to an end of said yoke for movement about axes parallel to said pivot axis, bearing means normally stationary relative to the frame and supporting the other of said rolls, and means connecting said support means and said frame for urging said pivot axis of said yoke toward the axis of said other roll and applying pressure between said rolls, said yoke and said bearings being free to pivot on their respective pivot axes with pressure applied between said rolls'.

4. In a wringer, a frame, lower and upper rolls in generally parallel inter-engageable relation in said frame, bearing means journaling said lower roll for rotation about an axis normally stationary with respect to said frame, bearings at the opposite ends of said upper roll, a yoke over said upper roll pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said bearings for movement of said bearings about axes transverse to the axis of said rolls, a top bar over said yoke, means pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said yoke to said top bar, means pivotally connecting one end of said top bar to said frame, and spring means between the other end of said top bar and said frame for applying pressure between said rolls.

5. In a wringer, a frame, a pair of rolls in said frame, a top bar pivoted at one end in said frame for applying pressure to said rolls, a link pivoted at one end to said frame and swingable between a rst roll pressure applying position and a second roll pressure releasing position, and spring means pivotally connected between said top bar and the other end of said link and arranged to urge said top bar toward said other end of said link to apply pressure to the rolls upon pivotal movement of said link to said one position, and releasable latch means for releasably latching said link against pivotal movement toward said second position.

6. In a wringer, a main frame, a pair of rolls in said frame, a top bar pivoted at one end to said frame for applying pressure to said rolls with the other end thereof overhanging one end of said frame, a link pivoted at one end to said frame at said one end of said frame for swinging movement in one direction to pressure applying position and in the opposite direction to pressure release position, and spring means connected between said other end of said top bar and the other end of said link and arranged to urge said other ends toward each other to apply pressure to said rolls upon pivotal movement of said link in said one direction, and releasable latch means for limiting pivotal movement of said link in said other direction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 128,294 Fisk June 25, 1872 178,981 Walker June 20, 1876 221,776 Camp Nov. 18, 1879 1,416,213 Kincaid May 16, 1922 1,557,827 Gould Oct. 20, 1925 2,199,079 Miner Apr. 30, 1940 2,202,779 Kauffman May 28, 1940 2,205,137 Etten June 18, 1940 2,218,829 Parish Oct. 22, 1940 2,313,134 Etten Mar. 9, 1943 2,323,210 Etten June 29, 1943 2,332,231 Kauffman Oct. 19, 1943 2,377,820 Smith June 5, 1945 2,434,367 Motatt Jan. 13, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 608,509 Great Britain 1948 

